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Thursday: Boomers & Beyond

Housing demand up for ‘skyrocketing’ older population

LANSING — Demand for independent senior living facilities is on the rise, with two additional sites undergoing construction in 2022 in Grand Traverse and Washtenaw counties. Michigan has over 500 independent living and over 1,200 assisted living facilities for seniors according to Seniorliving.org. The increase in the rate at which the state is graying is one reason for the higher need for additional facilities, said Karen Kafantaris, the AARP’s associate state director. “The country is aging, and we’re aging very fast here in Michigan,” she said. Kafantaris said ...

Cybersecurity for seniors

MARQUETTE — We’ve all experienced it. Maybe it’s a call informing you you’ve got a family member in jail who urgently needs money for bail, or an email stating you’ve won a prize and all you need to do is enter your credit card number for shipping fees. “Nothing is considered off ...

VA opens Providence research center to improve vets’ care

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A new research center that will focus on improving the care of veterans opened in Providence this week. The VA Providence Healthcare System marked the opening of the Capt. John H. Harwood Research Center. The VA renovated the former Harwood U.S. Army Reserve Center so its research service in Providence could use it. The center for Army Reserve units was built in 1950, closed in 2006 and was transferred to the VA in 2012. Renovating the space and adding to it cost about $12.8 million, according to the VA. The VA said the research aims to improve care for ...

Pain explained

MARQUETTE — Ever wondered what role the brain plays in the perception of pain? Liz Peppin, a physician’s assistant who is part of Marquette Internal Medicine’s neurology staff, held a presentation titled “The Neuroscience of Pain” for the Northern Center for Lifelong Learning at ...

Tulane to study estrogen’s contradictory dementia effects

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A five-year study by the Tulane University Brain Institute will focus on understanding why estrogen therapy helps protect some women from age-related brain problems, while other women do not benefit from the therapy. The $14 million study will be funded by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health, the university said in a Monday news release. The university notes that estrogen therapy may not benefit all women, especially those with hypertension and Type 2 diabetes. Jill Daniel is the director of the Tulane Brain Institute. She will ...

Getting proper sleep for seniors

MARQUETTE — March 13-19 is Sleep Awareness Week, according to the National Sleep Foundation. This week celebrates sleep health and encourages the public to prioritize sleep to improve health and well-being. “Sleep is something that people often don’t think about in terms of how it ...